He has signed a multi-year deal with the Chip Ganassi team, the team that took him to the Indy Car title. The team has probably expanded to nascar since that.
2006-07-10 02:43:56 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
When JPM debuted in 2001 there was so much hype surrounding him. He was touted as the next Ayrton Senna but during the course of his career he hasn't lived up to expectations. Compare his results with that of Kimi and Alonso who debuted in the same year, Montoya just falls short. He has on many occasions committed rookie mistakes – spinning on the warm up lap, getting a black flag and even taking his teammate out. There have been many teams who have said that they will not take him. He doesn’t have a ride with a top team for 2007. So I guess he has decided to get out of F1 before F1 forces him out. Maybe he figured he has a bigger chance of making it in NASCAR.
2006-07-10 04:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by pixelputa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Does anyone remember when he and Jeff Gordon swapped rides in 2003? It seemed that he showed some interest in making the move to NASCAR on that day but didn't act upon it until recently. Moving back with Chip Ganassi, a partnership that was very lucrative in his time before F1, is actually a smart move by the Colombian.
It is true that Alonso and Raikkonen did do a better job during their rookie seasons with their respective teams (Alonso to Minardi and Raikkonen to Sauber), but look where they started in F1 compared to Montoya. Jump to 2006 and look at the difference; Montoya is second best to Raikkonen in McLaren and Alonso already has himself a World Championship with Renault. Moving down is probably the only option for Montoya...
2006-07-10 17:00:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm undecided at the moment... I think it was probably a wise decision to leave F1, and I completely understand that. But then I don't understand the move to NASCAR, of all series he could have gone to! It's so different from F1... um, in the most basic of terms, the cars have roofs! I find this strange, having been brought up watching F1! But, in more complex terms than that, I guess it's a new challenge, something entirely different and as far removed from the F1 world as possible!
I also think it might have a little do with the fact Montoya wouldn't have ended up with a great race seat for next season had he stayed in F1, but I think there's probably more behind it than that, as if he had really wanted to stay, he could have managed a seat at Red Bull or Williams, perhaps even Renault if he'd gone and grovelled for it before Fisico got the seat!
As for who's going to get JPM's McLaren seat next season... it's probably going to be either Gary Paffett or Lewis Hamilton, probably the latter. But you never know, there could be some surprises! Hopefully so, although quite who I'd like to see there alongside Alonso I'm not sure!
Going back to the original question, I think Montoya's probably better off leaving F1 than staying put, as the politics and generic races are probably getting a little tedious for him. He's also not been given much of a chance at McLaren before he was shelved as their number #2 and took a bit of a backseat to Kimi. So yes, I think from his point of view, the best thing he could do in the situation was probably to leave F1, as he's not really going to have a chance to win anything major in it from here on out. However, I'm not sure I think it was a great idea to go to NASCAR; I think he should have gone back to Indycar for a full season at least first!
I'll miss him though, F1 needs more outlandish characters like him, even if he was a tad out of order and arrogant at times!
Edit: To say sorry about how long that was. Oops. I know I've made it even longer by adding this edit, so I'll be quiet now!
2006-07-10 15:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by ihateraikkonen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish he wouldn't, NASCAR just isn't an American sport anymore. ;( It will be a real challenge for Montoya, though, because there are many very talented drivers in NASCAR. I think it will be tough for Montoya to do well. Maybe his second year he'll get a win, but I don't think he'll get a win his first year because NASCAR & f1 are pretty different. NASCAR is the most popular motor sport, so maybe that's why he's coming to NASCAR. The drivers in NASCAR also make more money than the drivers in f1.
GO DALE EARNHARDT JR.!!!!!!!! # 8!!!!!!!! :)
2006-07-10 12:58:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Formula 1 is such a diff world- corporate politics driven by national politics... there is so much pressure to be perfect 100% of the time. Add to that the factor that teams like Schumacher can get hooked up to the point (with their budget) that the other teams are relegated to racing for second. Montoya is arrogant to the max. but a talented driver who will have more say and input, more control of his destiny than he does at F1. The only race in question is who will win the ego race- he or CHIP!!!!!!
2006-07-10 09:50:42 · answer #5 · answered by Mike R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!! Montoya can make more money in NASCAR being average than winning a championship in F1.
2006-07-10 11:51:24 · answer #6 · answered by tow_tow_truck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes because he sucks in F1. His head and ego are so big that he's got a hard time to fit his helmet! I'm glad he will leave for Nascar because i don't watch it anyway!
2006-07-10 10:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by James B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO COZ HE HAS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE IN F1 AND HE HAS A GR88888888888T BACKGROUND IN F1 AND F1 IS THE BEST AND THE MOST POPULAR MOTOR RACING SPORT IN THE WORLD
2006-07-10 09:50:28 · answer #8 · answered by Bond 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because NASCAR does not want some foreigner in the AMERICAN sport
2006-07-10 11:19:55 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's more than welcome to come over. Let him get his *** whipped so he can see what Nascar is all about!!
2006-07-10 09:49:12 · answer #10 · answered by marieandlucaspape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋